Sectional small water craft

ABSTRACT

The boat hull or hulls and necessary superstructure of small water craft are sectioned for convenience of transportation, storage, or handling, and are easily and quickly assembled and disassembled by means of pins extending from one section into another section and by removable pins which extend from one section into another section. A simple cam lock provides positive holding and quick release for the assembled parts; particularly the sectioned assembly is useful for small water craft, especially catamaran type sailboats.

Fisher et a1.

I SECTIONAL SMALL WATER CRAFT [75] Inventors: Robert E. Fisher; Leonard S.

Matejcic, both of Boulder, C010.

[73] Assignee: Vervcraft, Inc., Boulder, C010.

[22] Filed: Oct. 5, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 404,039

[52] US. Cl. 9/2 S; 114/39; 114/61 [51] Int. Cl B63b 7/04 [58] Field of Search 9/2 R, 2 C, 2 F, 2 S, l R; 114/39, 61, 77 R; 46/93 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,685,270 8/1954 Pierac 9/2 S 3,150,385 9/1964 Gerber et a1. 9/2 5 3,446,172 5/1969 Morton et a1 114/61 3,613,136 10/1971 Cogliano 9/2 S [451 May 20, 1975 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 729,245 H1932 France 9/2 S Primary ExaminerTrygve M. Blix Assistant Examiner-Charles E. Frankfort Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Richard D. Law

[ 5 7 ABSTRACT The boat hull or hulls and necessary superstructure of small water craft are sectioned for convenience of transportation, storage, or handling, and are easily and quickly assembled and disassembled by means of pins extending from one section into another section and by removable pins which extend from one section into another section. A simple cam lock provides positive holding and quick release for the assembled parts; particularly the sectioned assembly is useful for small water craft, especially catamaran type sailboats.

11 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEB HAY 2D 5975 SHEET 2 OF 2 SECTIONAL SMALL WATER CRAFT REFERENCE DISCLOSURE This application is directed to the subject matter of Patent Office Disclosure Document No. 019425 dated May 16, 1973.

This invention relates to section boats, and particularly to sectioned light weight catamaran sailboats.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Sailboats for one to four passengers and/or crew are, generally, in an awkward size range for handling and transportation out of the water. They are generally too small and too light to require a separate boat trailer, but are normally too large and heavy for easy handling and loading on top of a vehicle. Such complete boats, of course, do not fit inside normal vehicles such as cars and station wagons. In attempting to overcome such problems, the boats heretofore have been sectionalized for dismounting into smaller components. For instance, in Gunderson, U.S. Pat. No. 2,917,754, a catamaran type boat is shown wherein two complete hulls are foldable over a center deck section to reduce the width of a catamaran. However, the length remains the same. Edmonson in U.S. Pat. No. 3,119,128, has sectioned hulls for a catamaran boat and a folding deck section. The hull sections are cylindrical hollow members and are secured together by means of rings. U.S. Pat. No. 3,473,502 to Wittkamp describes a catamaran boat having inflatable hulls secured together on a takedown frame which uses a canvas deck. In Cogliano, U.S. Pat. No. 3,613,136, a catamaran type boat is provided with hinges on the hulls for reducing the length of the hulls and the deck and is provided with attached wheels to form a trailer on the ground.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided i an easily assembled and disassembled catamaran type boat in which the hulls are sectioned and sectioned superstructure or deck structure attaches to the hulls by means of pins, the hull sections are secured together by means of pins, and a simple take-up cinching latch secures the unit together for sailing.

It is, therefore, among the objects and advantages of thee present invention to provide a sectioned lightweight boat.

Another object of the invention is to provide a light weight sectioned sailboat particulaarly adaptable to catamaran type sailboats.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a light weight sailboat in which sectioned hulls are positioned together and held together by lock means cooperative between the super structure and the hulls.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a light weight boat'including sectioned hulls and a sectioned super structure which are held together by means of removable pins and cinch latches.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a sectioned, light weight boat which is arranged for assembling and disassembling without the requirement of tioned light weight water craft arranged to be reduced to sections easily handled by a single person.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other objects and advantages of the invention may be readily ascertained from the following description and appended illustrations in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sectioned catamaran sailboat according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the relation of the section parts and a simple means for securing the parts into a usable assembly;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational, detail view of the pin means used for securing the boat parts together; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevational detail of lock means for securing the boat sections in assembled condition.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The drawings of a specific embodiment of the invention relate to a twin hull catamaran type small sailing vessel, however, it is to be understood that the attachment means for the various sections and the lock means for the sections are applicable to single as well as multiple hull small watercraft. Furthermore, the description indicates that in the preferred embodiment the sections of the boats are formed of a hard surface shell filled with a foam to provide a generally non-sinkable type craft. However, the features of the invention are applicable to hollow sections as well as solid sections of the parts which are assembled into the form of a boat.

A catamaran type sailing boat is illustrated in FIG. 1, and this includes sectioned parts. The boat generally consists of forward hull sections 10a and 10b secured to aft hull sections 12a and 12b. The assembled hulls are secured in approximately parallel position by means of forward wing or deck section 14 and rear wing or deck section 16. A mast holder 18 is secured to the forward wing 14, and a mast 20 extends upwardly from the holder 18.

The hulls are preferably glass fiber reinforced synthetic plastic shells filled with a closed cell foam such as foamed polyurethane, polyethylene, foamed ABS and the like. In a similar manner, the wings l4 and 16 arre plastic glass fiber shells filled with foam to produce essentially rigid, strong members. The hulls and wings may be reinforced by internal reinforcing of various types as is conventional in the resin-glass fiber shell art.

The hulls are secured together by means of pins, and as shown in FIG. 1, each of the two hulls have equivalent parts and a description of one is believed satisfactory for a description of both. The aft section 12b includes an engaging face 22 arranged to fit flush with a similar face 23 on the forward hull section 10b. Fixed to and extending from hull 12b through face 22 are upper and lower pins 24 and 25 respectively. The pins are rigidly affixed by any convenient means into the hull section, and should be arranged so they do not pull out in use. The pins 24 and 25 are arranged to mate with bores 26 and 27 respectively and extending from face 23 into the forward hull section 10b. A small bore 28 extends from the top surface of the hull 10b through bores 26 and 27 dead ending beyond the bore 27. A pin 29 having an L-head 30 is arranged to telescope in the bore 28, and the L-head 30 is arranged to seat in slot 31 adjacent to and connected to the bore. Each pin 24 and 25 has a hole or a bore therethrough, and bore 24a in the pin 24 is aligned with the bore 25a in the pin 25, and both align with bore 28 when in place. When the hull sections are placed together the bores in the pins are arranged to align with the bore 28 in the forward hull sections so that the pin 29 passes through the pins in the bores and thereby secures the two hull sections together. The other hull is similarly secured together.

The forward wing or deck member 14 is a U-shaped member and including depending pins and 36 from opposite portions on the same side thereof. Bores 37 and 38 extend through the ends of the U. The pins 35 and 36 are sloped at an angle to the surface of the wing 14 and these are arranged to telescope in sloped bores 40 and 41 in hull sections 10b and 10a respectively. The bores 37 and 38 are arranged to mate with bores 42 and 43 respectively in the hulls 10b and 10a so that a pin 45, FIG. 3 extends through the bore 37 into the bore 42. As shown in FIG. 4 the pin 45 is a hollow pin having a shoulder or head and a slot 48 extending about halfway through the back side of the pin. The pin 45 prevents the wing member 14 from being removed when it is installed and secured. A slot 37a communicates with the slot 37 in the end of the wing member 14, and a slot 38a communicates with a slot 38 in the other end of the U-shaped member. These slots are arranged to accommodate a rod from the lock mechanism of the deck lock, described below. 7

The U-shaped aft wing 16 is arranged to seat on and be connected with the two aft hull sections by means of pins in a manner similar to that of the forward hull sections. Angled bores 50 and 51 in hull sections, respectively, are arranged to accommodate sloped pins 53 and 54 which are secured to and depend downwardly from the wing section 16. A bore 56 in one end of the U-shaped section 16 is provided with a slot 56a in a similar manner. A hollow pin 58 is arranged to pass through the opening 56 into the bore in the hull section 12b similarly to pin 45 for the forward section. A pin 59 is arranged to pass through the bore 57 into the bore 61 in hull section 12a. The bore 56 aligns with the bore 60 and the bore 57 aligns with the bore 61 to accommodate the pins. The pins 58 and 59 are hollow pins and each contains a slot in the front thereof similar to the slot in the pin 45. A slot 63 in the top of the aft hull section extending from the bore 60 to the face 22 is arranged to accommodate a lock mechanism for securing the boat together, and a similar slot 64 in hull section 12a accommodates a similar lock for the opposite side, as explained below.

The lock mechanism arranged to secure the various members of the boat in locked position includes a bar (FIG. 4) having at one end a head or turned portion 71 which is arranged to pass into the slot 48 in the pin 45. The opposite end is threadedly engaged by threads 72 with a depending nipple connected to a cam lock lever 75. Rod 72 is adjustably threaded into the nipple 73 which is pivotally secured by pivot 74 to the handle 75. The threaded adjustment provides a length adjustment for the rod 70. A rod threaded at 81 is attached to a nipple 82 which is pivotally secured by pivot 83 to the bottom of a handle 75. The free end of the bar 80 is turned over at 84 to provide means for hooking into the hollow pin 58 which passes into the opening 56. The pivot 83 is spaced from the pivot 74 so that the two rods may be drawn together as the handle is pulled downwardly towards the right thereby forming a cam action lock means. The rods of the lock mechanism pass through the slots in front of the holes in the wings and they lie in the slots 63 and 42 in aft and forward hull sections, so that the lock means is essentially hidden when in cinching position holding the boat together. It is, of course, realized that both sides of the wings are secured together in the same manner.

The boat is assembled by initially assembling the two hulls, inserting the pins in their respective bores and using the long pin to secure the hull pins from the aft section into the forward section. The wings are then secured to the hull by inserting the sloped pins into their respective holes and placing the removable pins into the inboard holes of the wings. The latch mechanism is then placed in position and cinched tight, which secures all of the members together. The wings may be used with or without a canvas or a net deck to provide a cockpit for the crew or passengers of the boat.

The aft section 16 may include a lower shelf which provides seat means for crew or passenger for the boat. Various rudders may be attached where desired, either on the ends of the hulls or extending rearwardly from the aft wing 16. The mast is arranged for mounting conventional sails, and if desired various rigging wires or ropes may be provided from the mast to the hulls by providing eyelets, rings or cleats on the hulls for securing lines and the like.

For light water craft it is desirable that the hulls be formed of as light material as possible, and for this purpose a thin shell of synthetic plastic-reinforced with glass fibers, plastic, metal, or other materials may be filled with a foam of synthetic plastic, preferably a rigid, closed cell foam, so as to provide an essentially unsinkable boat even though the skin is punctured. The various bores may be provided with skin such as metal, plastic-glass fibers and the like. And the pins, arranged to telescope into the bores, should preferably be made of non-corrosive metal, plastic-resin glass fiber, or the like. The Wings 14 and 16 may, also, be formed ofa thin shell, with the skin being made of light-weight metal, glass reinforced plastic, resin, or the like, which may be then filled with a foamed resin to provide a rigid strong member. Preferably any of the foam used to fill the shell members is of the closed cell variety which insures almost permanent floatability and safety for the unit.

In some instances the pins are shown as attached to one section or another; however, it is to be understood that these may be replaced with removable pins, and with a lock means for the pins. For example, the hull pins are secured to the forward hull section by means of an elongated pin passing through both of the aft hull pins. In a similar manner a bore at right angles to two bores in the face of the aft hull could be secured by a similar pin to secure removable pins to the aft hull section. In a like manner, the fixed pins of the wing sections may be replaced with removable pins provided with lock means, as for example, a simple pin such as pin 29 passing through a bore in the larger securing pin. Further, the lock means may be formed with cables instead of the rods as shown in FIG. 4. Obviously, the tubes and pins may be of any desired configuration, including square, T, H, etc. Also, spring detents may be used to hold the pins in the bores instead of the long lock pins as shown in FIG. 2, such spring detents as are commonly used to hold a rod in a bore.

1 claim:

1. In a light-weight, small water craft arrangedfor quick assembly and disassembly having at least two sectioned hulls and a sectioned superstructure securable to the hulls and providing crews space, the improvement which comprises:

a. means for securing the hull sections together including mating bores in said hulls registering at the joint between said sections and including pin means extending into said bores from one hull section to the other section and including means for releasably securing pins in said bores,

b. mating bores in said superstructure and in the hull sections and pin means extending from said superstructure into the hull sections, and

c. latch means for securing the superstructure to the hull sections and the hull sections together including a pair of second pin means telescoping in bores in adjacent sections of the superstructure and into bores in adjacent hull sections, said pair of second pin means having means securing the same together inclusive of quick release cinching and locking means whereby the whole assembly is secured in essentially rigid condition.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said pin means for securing said hulls together are secured to one said hull section and telescope into the other said hull section.

3. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said means for releasably securing said pins includes a pin passing through bores at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of said pins.

4. The improvement of claim 3 wherein said pin extends from the top of the hull section towards the bottom thereof.

5. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said second pin means extending from said superstructure are arranged in pairs, and at least one opposed pair is hollow and have means to hold the superstructure to said hulls.

6. The improvement of claim 5 wherein said quick release means conjointly holds said pairs of hollow pins.

7. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said quick release means includes an eccentrically mounted handle for cinching said section together when moved to a locked position.

8. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said quick release means are arranged to lie in a slot below the surface of said hull sections.

9. A sectioned, light-weight, catamaran boat arranged for quick assembly and disassembly comprising:

a. a pair of sectioned hulls, the sections of each hull being assembled together to form two complete hulls, each hull section being completely enclosed and waterproof;

b. superstructure means arranged to mate on the pair of assembled hulls to hold them in spaced parallel relation and provide crew space, said superstructure means being formed into separate sectioned portions;

c. a plurality of mating bores provided between said hull sections and between said superstructure and hull sections;

(1. first pin means arranged to extend through the bores in said superstructure section into said hull and secure the two parts together;

e. second pin means telescoping in said bores between said hull sections;

f. lock means for adjacent pin means between said hull sections, and

g. quick release latch means extending between said hull sections to secure the hull sections together with said superstructure by interconnecting said first pin means in said bores.

10. A sectioned boat according to claim 9 wherein said hulls are plastic foam filled shells.

11. A sectioned boat according to claim 9 wherein said superstructure includes a pair of U-shaped sections. 

1. In a light-weight, small water craft arranged for quick assembly and disassembly having at least two sectioned hulls and a sectioned superstructure securable to the hulls and providing crew''s space, the improvement which comprises: a. means for securing the hull sections together including mating bores in said hulls registering at the joint between said sections and including pin means extending into said bores from one hull section to the other section and including means for releasably securing pins in said bores, b. mating bores in said superstructure and in the hull sections and pin means extending from said superstructure into the hull sections, and c. latch means for securing the superstructure to the hull sections and the hull sections together including a pair of second pin means telescoping in bores in adjacent sections of the superstructure and into bores in adjacent hull sections, said pair of second pin means having means securing the same together inclusive of quick release cinching and locking means whereby the whole assembly is secured in essentially rigid condition.
 2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said pin means for securing said hulls together are secured to one said hull section and telescope into the Other said hull section.
 3. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said means for releasably securing said pins includes a pin passing through bores at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of said pins.
 4. The improvement of claim 3 wherein said pin extends from the top of the hull section towards the bottom thereof.
 5. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said second pin means extending from said superstructure are arranged in pairs, and at least one opposed pair is hollow and have means to hold the superstructure to said hulls.
 6. The improvement of claim 5 wherein said quick release means conjointly holds said pairs of hollow pins.
 7. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said quick release means includes an eccentrically mounted handle for cinching said section together when moved to a locked position.
 8. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said quick release means are arranged to lie in a slot below the surface of said hull sections.
 9. A sectioned, light-weight, catamaran boat arranged for quick assembly and disassembly comprising: a. a pair of sectioned hulls, the sections of each hull being assembled together to form two complete hulls, each hull section being completely enclosed and waterproof; b. superstructure means arranged to mate on the pair of assembled hulls to hold them in spaced parallel relation and provide crew space, said superstructure means being formed into separate sectioned portions; c. a plurality of mating bores provided between said hull sections and between said superstructure and hull sections; d. first pin means arranged to extend through the bores in said superstructure section into said hull and secure the two parts together; e. second pin means telescoping in said bores between said hull sections; f. lock means for adjacent pin means between said hull sections, and g. quick release latch means extending between said hull sections to secure the hull sections together with said superstructure by interconnecting said first pin means in said bores.
 10. A sectioned boat according to claim 9 wherein said hulls are plastic foam filled shells.
 11. A sectioned boat according to claim 9 wherein said superstructure includes a pair of U-shaped sections. 